Chapter 4

“I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be.” Buffy grimaced, holding an ice pack to her head. “I was hungry and I just passed out for a little bit. No big.”

“Buffy, I fear this could be a big ‘big’. You had an emotional outburst earlier and for some reason you refuse to leave my house--.”

“You want to get rid of me, Giles,” Buffy pouted.

“No, but if there’s something bothering you, you must tell me.”

“Nothing’s bothering me. I’m completely clueless. No bother here,” she lied, watching Spike out of the corner of her eye. Once she’d woken up sprawled out on the floor she could’ve sworn that she had heard him sobbing.

He was crying over me, Buffy thought, her heart skipping a beat. That’s so…sweet. Yup, I’m a goner. I totally love him now. Stupid bleached blonde idiot, making me fall for him. Too bad I can’t be with him or tell him how I feel.

“Buffy, are you paying attention?”

“Ah…” Buffy realized she had been staring at Spike. She waited for the vampire to wink or make a comment but he was silent and he looked concerned. “Of course I am, just repeat everything that you said.”

“Buffy, you’re going home. Joyce will be here to pick you up any minute.”

“No! I want to stay. Who—who’ll feed Spike? And you don’t warm his blood up enough.”

“She’s thinking irrationally.” Giles announced to no one in particular.

“Can I take him with me?” Buffy pleaded, surprised by her own needy voice. “Please? Giles, I need him—I know it sounds crazy but Spike and I made a deal and I need him to be with me so I can make sure he holds up his part of it.”

“Buffy, I…”

“You shouldn’t argue with an unstable Slayer, Watcher-boy.” Spike spoke up. “I’ll go with her, I don’t mind. Joyce and I get along quite well. I’ll be on my best behavior. It’ll be like a slumber party.”

“With Passions, matching footie pajamas and…onion blossoms,” Buffy said, grinning, keeping her eyes only on Spike.

“You’re mum really knows how to make them? You weren’t just saying that during the spell?”

Buffy nodded and she opened her mouth to tell him more but Giles interrupted.

“Willow and I will be researching the spell that she cast. I fear it maybe be having some lasting affects on the both of you. It must be what is making you both...”

“Get along?” Spike offered.

“Uh…yes.”

“Is it a bad thing that she doesn’t want to dust me? That she enjoys my company?”

Buffy watched as Spike seemed to puff up. He looks so proud, she thought. He looks so happy…

Buffy struggled not to smile.
***

“Rupert seemed to be very adamant about keeping him tied up, Buffy.”

“He’s just overreacting,” Buffy cut Spike’s ropes and Joyce wandered out of the kitchen. “That’s what Watcher’s are paid to do.”

“He gets paid? It must not be a lot. Have you seen his car?”

“I’ve attempted to drive his car.” Buffy laughed. Once Spike’s hands were free, she touched his wrists. “When did you do this?”

He pulled away, hiding his hands in his coat. “Just a rope burn, nothing to get your knickers twisted about.”

“Your wrists are raw. What did you do?” She demanded.

“I tried to help you when you passed out and I couldn’t do it very well tied to the fucking chair,” Spike snapped defensively.

“I—I’m sorry,” Buffy said, taken off guard.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Spike—oh, am I interrupting?” Joyce asked, walking into the Summers’ kitchen.

“No, not at all Joyce,” Spike smiled at her politely.

“Good, come up stairs and we’ll get you settled in the guest room.”

“Thank you, Joyce for letting me stay…” Spike turned on his heel, leaving Buffy alone.
***

“Yesh, mood swings much?” Buffy picked up her pillow and she pounded her fists into it. She was already dressed for bed and she hadn’t seen Spike since her mother had shown him to his room. “One minute, he’s a fluffy puppy and then he looks like he could bite my head off.” Pouting, she turned off her light and crawled under her covers. “Stupid vampire.”

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

Buffy jumped, hearing Spike’s voice through her door. “Yeah and why should you care?” She slapped her forehead with her palm, not impressed by her attempt to be bitchy. “What do you want?”

“To apologize.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Can I come in?”

“Ah…” Buffy stalled, blindly smoothing down her hair and pulling her covers up to her neck. “I guess.”

“Buffy, I…” He opened the door and froze after stepping into her room. “So, this is where the mighty Slayer sleeps? It’s so…girlie.” He chuckled.

“So what? I’m a girl.” Buffy glared as he started to walk around her room, poking her stuffed animals. “Hey! You’re supposed to be groveling and begging for forgiveness, not messing with my stuff!”

“Hush, you’ll wake Joyce.”

“Put Mr. Gordo down. Don’t make me get out of this bed and beat you, Spike.”

“Mr. Who?” Spike tossed the stuffed pig into the air.

“Spike, I mean it. Here I thought you were going to stop being such a jerk…” She stopped to catch Mr. Gordo as Spike chucked it towards the bed. “You’re so mean.” Buffy frowned, petting her favorite childhood toy.

“Weren’t you in college last time I checked, pet? Your room is so…elementary school.”

“There’s nothing wrong with liking stuffed animals. My grandma always said, ‘Whether a girl’s nine or ninety, she’ll always love things fuzzy and cuddly.’”

“Your grandmother sounds wise.”

“Are you making fun of my grandma?”

“No,” Spike said, sitting on the edge of Buffy’s bed.

“Are you going to apologize now?”

“Yeah, just give me a minute. Saying sorry is a hard thing for us forces of darkness. Painful even.”

“Oh. Take your time then.” Buffy settled back on her pillow.

“I snapped because I was embarrassed. I know I’ve been saying a lot about my feelings lately but when you hit the floor, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I was scared, Buffy, I can’t remember the last time I was truly afraid of something. So, I tried to get myself free and it did nothing but muck up my hands…and getting back to the point, I’m very sorry that I yelled at you, love.”

“That…that didn’t take much time at all,” Buffy blinked, touched by his confessions.

“Consider yourself lucky,” Spike grinned. “So, what do you say, pet? Has my apology been accepted?”

“It has.”

“Good, ok then, I guess I should let you sleep, yeah?”

“It’s been a long day.” Buffy avoided telling him that he should go because she secretly wanted him to say and talk to her.

“You can say that again.” Spike made his way to her door.

“You’ll be here in the morning, right? Don’t run away, I’ll find you and drag you back.”

“Not before kicking my ass good and proper, right?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be here, Buffy,” he said softly before closing her bedroom door.
***

“You’re up early.”

“I know.” Buffy walked around the house, shutting all the blinds that covered the windows.

“How long will Spike be staying with us?” Joyce asked.

“I’m not sure, it shouldn’t be long.” Buffy went into the kitchen and her mother followed her. “I want him to find his own place. But until then, you don’t mind if he stays, right?”

“I like Spike. He can stay for as long as he needs to.”

“Cool.” Buffy took a bag of blood out of the refrigerator and she poured it into a mug. “Mom, do we still have straws?”

“Look in the silverware drawer. It’s funny to see you like this, Buffy.” Joyce laughed softly over her coffee.

“Like what?” She stirred the blood and she doubled checked to see if it was the correct temperature.

“Are you and Spike a couple now? Are you dating?”

“No! Why would you think that? I can’t stand Spike,” Buffy laughed nervously, opening the cabinets and wondering what she should fix the vampire for breakfast.

“I’ve never seen you fuss about someone so much.”

“I’m not fussing. I just want to make sure he doesn’t accidentally dust himself as he goes down for ‘telly time,’” Buffy wiggled her fingers in air quotation marks. “It’d be very messy and just because he drinks blood that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be warmed properly you know. Undercooked food, no matter what it is, is unsanitary. Mom, can you make one of those onion things tonight?”

“I didn’t think you cared for them.”

“Spike likes them,” Buffy said quickly and under her breath.
***

“Rise and shine, Blood Breath.” Buffy nudged his door open with her foot. “Wakey, wakey, Spikey.”

“Sod off. Too early.” Spike rolled over and he buried his head into the pillow.

“Get up or I’m taking the food elsewhere.”

“Food? Do I smell eggs?”

“Yup, I even mixed some blood into them—which was totally disgusting. I hope everything will taste alright.”

“What is all this? Breakfast in bed?” Spike sat up, his blankets falling to his waist and exposing his bare chest. “Bacon too?”

“And toast. Not even burnt.” Buffy couldn’t help but smile proudly.

“This…this is wonderful, pet. Thank you.”

“Oh, don’t get too happy, Mom had leftovers,” Buffy lied, shrugging.

“I’ll have to thank her then…”

“No! I’ll do it for you, she’s already at work. Well, ah, enjoy the food. Drink the blood before it gets cold and icky and I’ll be in the shower if you need me.”
***

“How’d you sleep,” Buffy asked, looking up as Spike came downstairs after eating and showering.

“Beds are taken for granted.”

“Especially after you’ve been strapped to a not-so-comfy chair for a few days,” Buffy added.

“You seem to be in a delightful mood today, kitten.”

“Even I can take an off day from being bitchy, right?”

“That’s right.” Spike smiled and he moved closer to the sofa where Buffy was sitting. “May I?”

“It’s a free country.”

“To some degree.”

“Just don’t sit too close.” Buffy inched away from him once he sat down.

“I’ll keep my distance.”

Buffy grinned as he reached for the remote. “Wanna watch a movie?”

“It’s Saturday. Don’t you have plans?”

“You don’t want to watch a movie?” Buffy said, pouting against her will. “That’s fine.”

“No, no, I’ll watch anything but I want to make sure you don’t have someplace you’d rather be.” He looked at her and waited for a response. “If you have nothing better to do, I’m in.”

“Anything, Spike?”

Spike grinned when she ignored his other comments. “Great. Can I take it back?”

“No. You promised, anything.”

“Did not. It wasn’t official. We didn’t make it official.”

“Well, you’re untied, should we shake hands then?”

“Forget it.” Spike said, disappointed he couldn’t get another kiss out of her. “What are we going to watch?”

“Chick flicks. There’s a marathon of movies all day. And then we’ll patrol later.”

“I’ve got my day planned, haven’t I?” Spike frowned but Buffy could tell from his eyes that he was pleased.
***

“I brought the entire box and a snack.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve seen this damn movie so many times.” She blew her nose loudly into a tissue. “This happens every time.”

“Awww, poor baby.” Spike playfully patted her shoulder.

“Shut up.” She took a handful of snack mix out of the bowl that was in his lap. She ate each cracker and pretzel slowly as Spike shoved the food into his mouth.

“So, vampires don’t have to worry about digesting their food?”

“What?” Spike opened his mouth and crumbs fell onto his shirt.

“Ew.” Buffy took a few tissues and she laid them across his neck.

“What’s this?”

“Your bib, Spikey, and chew quieter my movie’s starting again.”
***

“You watch those kind of movies often?”

“As much as I can. They keep me grounded.” Buffy and Spike walked out of the Summers’ home with stakes and weapons in hand. “They were some good movies though. I even saw you tearing up a few times.”

“Whatever, Slayer.”

“You aren’t denying it,” Buffy teased.

“No, and now I’m going to change the subject. So, this is how you patrol? You wait around until something goes bump in the night?”

“Or until someone screams. Let’s go that way.”

“How predictable is that? Finding all the baddies in a graveyard? I swear some demons give us creative types a bad name.”

“And you’re so creative? Just how many times did you run back to the factory for all your evil deeding?”

“Oh, aren’t you cute? I thought it was a good idea: me going back—it’s not my fault that you’re so bloody smart.”

“Giving me compliments to make you not look so bad…I see right through you, Spikey.”

“See? What did I say? You’re brilliant, kitten.” Spike looked at his feet and nudged a rock with his boot, avoiding Buffy’s eyes.

“Spike, I--.”

“Wait.” His head suddenly shot up and he motioned for her to be quiet. “Someone’s coming.”

“Demon?”

“Buffy? Is that you?”

“Human,” Spike grumbled.

“Shit! It’s Riley! We-we need to hide!” Buffy grabbed onto his jacket and she shielded herself behind his body.

“You’ve already been spotted, he’s heading this way.”

“Spike, he still thinks that we’re engaged!” Buffy tried to whisper but she was panicking.

“I’m sure the boy’ll understand. Tell ‘em that we were sloshed—too many beers or whatnot.”

“But…he wants to date me—I don’t like him.” Buffy looked up at Spike, pleading. “Please,” she pushed up against his body, “Pretend. For me?”

“Pretend what exactly?” Spike smirked; he liked watching her squirm. “What do you want me to do? I could misunderstand and you’d chase after me with a broom or something.”

“Oh, Spike,” Buffy said, no longer whispering but glaring. “I love you too, honey.” Before Spike could respond, she yanked his head down and kissed him passionately.

“Buffy? You’re still with that guy?”

“Oh, yeah,” Buffy gasped as Spike wrapped his arms around her, grinding their hips together. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” she whispered so only Spike could hear. “So much trouble.”

“What are you gonna do about it,” Spike smirked.

“But Willow—she told me that you guys were playing a joke on me.” Riley looked away, blushing as Buffy let out another moan. “She said you guys hate each other.”

“Gotta love Red,” Spike snorted, taking a break from kissing Buffy’s face to nuzzle her neck.

“We’re not getting married, that was a joke.” Buffy explained, building on Willow’s lies. “But, Spike and I, we…”

“But we’re together, aren’t we love?” Spike added, grinning as Buffy nodded in agreement, shivers traveling through her body. “She’s mine. Leave. If I see you near my girl again, you’ll be sorry.”

“But Willow…”

“Looks like you’ve been taken for a fool twice, yeah?”

“B-buffy?” Riley looked at her desperately.

“Sorry, Riley. I’m, uh, kinda taken.” She shrugged and slid her hands higher under Spike’s shirt. “Sorry.” Buffy watched Riley walk away until Spike pulled her head back to him for another kiss that left her whimpering.
***

“That—that was…”

“Not supposed to happen? All pretend? A game of make-believe,” Spike offered, not lessening his hold on Buffy.

“All that,” Buffy agreed softly, not struggling to get away from him.

“And more.” Spike spoke into her hair. “I hope he stops by more often.”

Buffy silently agreed again but she didn’t say a word. “We need to get back to work.”

“Of course.”

“Are you going to let me go?”

“Not willingly.”

“Spike…”

“Right. Sorry. Got caught up in the moment.” Spike released her and moved a wild strand of hair behind her ear with his little finger.

“Spike…” Buffy swallowed, noticing his hand was shaky. She was also flustered by their kisses and groping. “We need to do another quick sweep and then we’ll head home.”

“You’re always all work and no play, Slayer.” Spike teased but without any bite to his voice. “You sure we can’t carry on where we left off? I know you enjoyed it.”

Buffy tried to stay strong but hearing him plead was taking its toll on her endurance. “We shouldn’t,” she said weakly, longing to touch him but fighting the urge.

“Buffy, how long are you going to act like this?” Spike stepped closer.

“Hey, you, stay back,” Buffy swallowed.

“Getting nervous? It’s getting hard to fight it, isn’t it,” he whispered, putting his hands on her waist.

“Don’t…”

“Stop me.” Spike gently pressed his lips to hers. “I love you, Buffy,” he said kissing her again, sliding his tongue into her mouth.
***